Lélia Matos is a paleoceanographer studying past intermediate-depth (thermocline) ocean conditions driven by both human activity and natural climate changes. For that, she performs chemical analysis of cold-water corals and other carbonate organisms. From a background in Zoology, and a Master in Marine Biology and Management, and then progressed to a Doctoral degree in Natural Sciences. Through this diversified path she (co-)authored 9 peer-reviewed publications, delivered 50+ presentations and outreach talks, and was involved in 10+ research projects. Lélia was PI/(co)Proponent of five successfully funded proposals exploiting cold-water coral geochemistry to investigate past Atlantic thermocline waters' nutrient content, temperature, acidification, lead-pollution entrainment and hypoxia.